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INTERNATIONAL JOINT
CANADA AND UNITED STATES
COMMISSION
LAKE ERIE LAKE ONTARIO
AND
THE INTERNATIONAL SECTION
OF THE
ST* LAWRENCE RIVER
AUGUST 1968

INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
SECOND INTERIM REPORT
on the
WATER POLLUTION OF LAKE ERIE, LAKE ONTARIO AND
THE INTERNATIONAL SECTION OF THE ST LAWRENCE RIVER
On August 7 , 1968 the respective Chairmen of the
Canadian and United States Sections of the International
Joint Commission wrote to the Secretary of State for External
Affairs for the Government of Canada, and the Secretary of
State for the Government of the United States as follows:
On October 7 , 1964 the Governments of Canada
and the United States requested the International
Joint Commission to investigate and report upon
the extent, causes, locations and effects of
pollution in the waters of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario
and the International Section of the St Lawrence
River and to recommend the most practicable remedial
measures which might be considered necessary. The
text of the reference is attached hereto.
The Commission, in a first interim report dated
December 1965, of which a copy is attached, informed
the two Governments of the then known conditions in
Lakes Erie and Ontario and the more significant
sources of pollution. That report outlined the

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three phases of the Commission's integrated pro-
gramme for its investigation. The first phase
involved short-term concentrated studies designed
to secure factual information on the Lakes and the
extent and origins of pollution; the second and
third phases, being undertaken concurrently with
the first involved detailed continuing studies and
research on the physical, chemical and biological
conditions.
Since the first interim report, the two
technical advisory boards established by the Com-
mission to conduct the detailed studies have made
important progress. These boards are presently
assembling and evaluating data collected during
the first phase of the investigation.
The Commission is aware of the active concern
of the two Governments and the wide public interest
and anxiety concerning the water quality of the
Great Lakes.
For this reason, the Commission re-
cently directed its boards to prepare and submit a
report outlining the steps taken since 1965 by the
responsible authorities for the reduction of pollu-
tion in Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and the International
Section of the St Lawrence River. In order to keep
the two Governments currently informed of the progress
made in implementing remedial measures on both sides
of the boundary, the Commission agreed on July 29

-3-
that the resultant second interim report of the
Commission's boards as revised and dated June 1968
should be transmitted to the two Governments. Accord-
ingly a copy is attached hereto.
This most recent report of our boards indicates
that considerable progress is being made in both
countries toward improvement of the situation.
Nevertheless, a great deal still remains be to done.
It is expected that the boards' report on the
first phase of the investigation will be submitted
to the Commission in 1969.
The Commission, after consideration of this report
will make it available to appropriate officials and
interested individuals as a basis for public hearings.
These hearings will be held at several locations
in both countries to give all those interested in
the quality of the waters of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario
and the International Section of the St Lawrence
River an opportunity to comment thereon and to con-
vey additional information to the Commission.
Finally, the Commission will report to the Govern-
ments of Canada and the United States as soon as
practicable after the public hearings.

-4-
TEXT OF IJC REFERENCE
On October 7, 1964, the Secretary of State for
External Affairs, for the Government of Canada, and the Secretary
of State, for the Government of the United States, sent the
following Reference to the International Joint
Commission through
identical letters addressed respectively to the Canadian and
I have the honour to inform you that the Governments
of the United States and Canada have been informed that the
waters of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and the international section
of the St Lawrence River are being polluted by sewage and industrial
waste discharged into these waters. Having in mind the
provision of Article IV of the Boundary Waters Treaty signed
January 11, 1909, that boundary waters and waters flowing across
the boundary shall not be polluted on either side to the injury
of health or property on the other side, the two Governments
have agreed upon a joint Reference of the matter to the International
Joint Commission, pursuant to the provisions of
Article IX of said Treaty. The Commission is requested to inquire
into and to report to the two Governments upon the following
questions:
Are the waters of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the
international section of the St Lawrence River being
polluted on either side of the boundary to an extent
which is causing or is likely to cause injury to
health or property on the other side of the boundary?
If the foregoing question is answered in the affirmative,
to what extent, by what causes, and in what
localities in such pollution taking place?
If the Commission should find that pollution of the
character just referred to is taking place, what
remedial measures would, in its judgement, be most
practicable from the economic, sanitary and other
points of view and what would be the probable cost
thereof?

-5-
In the conduct of its investigation and otherwise
in the performance of its duties under this reference, the
Commission may utilize the services of engineers and other
specially qualified personnel of the technical agencies of
Canada and the United States and will so far as possible make
use of information and technical data heretofore acquired or
which may become available during the course of the investigation.
The two Governments are also agreed on the desirability
of extending this Reference to other boundary waters
of the Great Lakes Basin at an appropriate time. The Commission
is requested to advise the Governments when, in its
opinion, such action is desirable.
The Commission should submit its report and
recommendations to the two Governments as soon as practicable.

SECOND INTERIM REPORT
TO THE
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~n
ON THE
r’
/’
/
POLLUTION OF
/’
LAKE ERIE, LAKE ONTARIO
AND THE
INTERNATIONAL SECTION
OF THE
WATER POLLUTION
ST. LAWRENCE RIVER
BOARDS
JUNE 1868

June 17, 1.968.
International Joint Commissicn,
United States a.nd Canada.
In response to the request made by the
Conmission duri.ny its biennizl n;eeti.ng held. in Ottabra
on October 4, 19G7, the wzter poll.ution board2 have
pr€ipa.red their second interin. report on th.e polI.ution
of Lake Erk, Lake Ontaric and the internz.tiona1
section of the St. Lawrence River.
This report, dated June, 1968, rei.teratEs
the conclu.sions nade in the first interin; report
presented to the Conmission in September, 1965, and
notes the achi.evemcnt.s in pellution abatement since
that time.
Respectively subn:it.ted,
Canada
United States
H . F! . Po ston
(Co-Chairman)

INTRODUCTION
This is the second interim report of the International
Lake Erie Water Pollution Board and the International
Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence River Water Pollution Board to
the International Joint Commission on pollution of the waters
of Lakes Erie and Ontario and the international section of
the St. Lawrence River. This report is in response to a
request of the Commission of October 4, 1967, which stated:
"...request the Board to prepare and submit a summary report
as soon as convenient, upon steps taken by those concerned
since the Commission's Interim Report to Governments in 1965
for reduction of pollution in the waters under reference,
together with any further comments that can be made upon
information so far assembled in relation to the long range
problem and any conclusions that can be drawn and recommendations
proposed on special aspects such as oil pollution."
The Boards' primary mission was established in a
directive from the Commission on December 2, 1964, to carry
out necessary investigations and studies and to advise the
Commission
(a) whether the waters under reference are
being polluted on either side of the
international boundary to an extent
which is causing or likely to cause
ix:jury to health or property on the
other side of the boundary;
(b) the extent, causes and locality of
pollution sources;
(c) practicable remedial measures and their
probable costs.
The two technical advisory boards established by
the Commission under the terms of this reference, are
presently involved in assembling data and other materials
which will make up a summary report to the Commission
scheduled for completion in the spring of 1969. Barring any
unforeseen circumstances which would change such plans, the
work is progressing on schedule.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
"
1. Although there has been noticeable progress both on
sides of the boundary ,in developing remedial programs, pollution
and advancing eutrophication are still problems in areas
of Lake Erie. Such pollution is still causing or is likely
to cause injury to property and persons on the other side of
the boundary.
2. Similar conditions are continuing to develop in
Lake Ontario and the international section of the St. Lawrence
River.
3. The technical boards recognize that there are
current problems on the waters under reference, which remain
to be solved. These are the problems of:
(i)
(ii)
unsightly floating and settleable solids:
oils from industrial spills, vessels, as
well as potential shipping disasters such as
the Torrey Canyon, or serious pollution from
oil and gas explorations; the latter two
being problems which have not as yet
occurred on the Great Lakes but for which
emergency procedures should be established:
taste and odor producing substances;
sludge deposits including
silt;
high coliform densities near urban
areas:
objectionable algal accumulations on
shorelines;
the annual fish kill of millions of alewives,
which subsequently litter the
beaches causing property damage and
creating a potential health hazard;
(viii)
the problem of refuse dumped either on
the water's edge or directly into it.
The technical boards also recognize that eutrophication
is an urgent problem, but appreciate that it does not
have a simple solution. The arrestment and reversal of the
2

eutrophication phenomenon, if they can in fact be accomplished,
will come only through intensive research into the
mechanisms of eutrophication and must be considered long
range problems. Some degree of relief of the present rate
of eutrophication however can be expected to be achieved
by nutrient control in municipal and industrial discharges.
Other future problems which
must and will keep apprised of, include:
the technical boards
(i) Thermal pollution from fossil fuel,
and nuclear thermal power plants.
It is estimated that the greatest
increase in water withdrawals on
the United States side of the Great
Lakes will be for thermal-electric
power, and by 2020, the demand will
have increased nine-fold. It has also
been projected that nuclear power
generation in the United States will
increase from only 1%. today to 25%
between the years 1980 and 2000.
(ii) The increased use of nuclear fuels
will require the disposal of greater
amounts of radioactive wastes.
(iii) Pesticides and non-point sources of
pollution, such as agricultural and
urban runoff are also problems which
will have to be vigorously attacked
in the years ahead.
4. The technical boards are well aware of the effects
on the reference waters that may result through oil discharges
from a variety of sources. However, since this matter is
currently under active study, the boards are not prepared at
this time to present definite conclusions with respect to
measures that may be required to deal with the problem.
This aspect will be fully covered in the 1969 report on these
reference waters.
5. Other conclusions and recommendations made in the
September 1965 interim report can be generally applied to the
present conditions.
3

ACHIEVEMENTS
In order that the Commission may be fully informed
concerning progress in developing remedial programs, the
following information is presented. The recommendations of
the 1965 interim report are reproduced in italics, either in
full or in abstracted form, followed immediately by a summary
of the achievements to date.
1. Municipal wastes discharged to Lake Erie and its
tributaries should be given secondary treatment or treatment
of such nature as to effect the maximum reduction of ROO and
phosphates as we22 as other deleterious substancefi.
Enforcement conferences have been held in the United
States under provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control
Act concerning the matter of pollution in the Detroit River,
Lake Erie and its tributaries, and involving as participants,
the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, and the
States of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.
Federal, and state authorities and industry have
reached agreements on sources of pollution, remedial measures
to be instituted and time schedules for their implementation.
The abatement schedules established provide for
secondary treatment of all U.S. municipal waste discharges in
the Lake Erie Basin not now providing secondary treatment by
-f
1972.
Though conferees did not agree upon the amount of
phosphate reduction required, they did agree in principle that
it would be desirable to have effected the maximum phosphate
removal consistent with practicable technology.
The subject of phosphate removals is under active
investigation and practicable methods for the removal of phosphates
are being field tested on full-scale plants.
In addition the Secretary of the Interior has established
a joint government-industry task force to investigate
possible controls of eutrophication and to search for possible
phosphate substitutes to be used in detergents.
In the Lake Ontario Basin, the State of New York's
intensified enforcement program initiated in September, 1965,
is now showing positive results. Virtually all municipalites
not already having secondary treatment facilities, have taken
steps towards providing these facilities, as required by Statewide
policy.
In June, 1967, the 0,W.R.C. announced its Provincewide.
policy guidelines for water use and water quality control.
4

These established the protection of beneficial uses as the
controlling factor in determining waste treatment requirements
for municipalities and industries. Accordingly, municipal
wastes discharged directly to the Great Lakes require primary
treatment and disinfection in all cases, with secondary or
other treament where the need is demonstrated.
Also, it should be noted that all of the States in
the Great Lakes Basin have submitted, for approval by the
Secretary of Interior, water quality standards for Interstate
waters. Standards for the States of New York, Ohio, Indiana
and Michigan have been approved, those for the State of
Pennsylvania are under review. Included with the standards
are plans of implementation to maintain present high quality
waters and to improve low quality waters.
2. Industria2 p2ants improve practices for the segregation
and treatment of wastes to effect maximum reductions
of pollutants.
All discharges of industrial wastes from U.S. sources
into Lake Erie, and its tributaries, are to be in compliance
with the recommendations of the enforcement conference (viz.
secondary treatment or its equivalent) by January 1, 1970.
Ontario industries discharging to the Lake Erie are Basin
proceeding to meet the requirements of the Ontario water
Resources Commission.
In the Lake Ontario Basin, the State of New York and
the Province of Ontario are continuing enforcement programs
which will result in adequate treatment, in keeping with
proposed boundary water quality objectives, being developed
by the technical boards for the Lakes.
3. Water Pollution Control Agencies should undertake
action to insure that industrial p2ants discharging wastes into
waters of Lake Erie and its tributaries within their respective
jurisdictions institute programs of sampling their effluents to
provide necessary information about waste outputs. Such sampling
shall be conducted at such Zocatiorzs and with such frequen.cy
as to yie2d statistically reliable valucs of all waste outputs
and to show their variations. b
The States of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania
and New York agreed, at the Lake Erie Enforcement Conference,
to institute additional programs ,of wastes sampling of
industrial effluents, from plants in their jurisdiction which
discharge to Lake Erie or its tributaries, and where such
programs are not already being carried out.
5

The 0.W.R.C; has, since its inception, maintained
a regulatory industrial waste program consisting an of
inventory of the industrial waste discharges to the Great
Lakes: regular investigations of all industrial sources of
water pollution and assessment of the degree of compliance
with pollution abatement requirements; technical assistance
to municipalities and industries for the control of wastes
from existing and new industrial locations; and review and
approval of proposed waste treatment facilities.
4. Programs should be developed to prevent accidental
spi 21s of waste materials to Lake Erie anti its tributaries.
In-plant surveys with the purpose of preventing accidents
are recommended.
The States are developing programs to prevent
accidental spills of waste materials to Lake Erie and its
tributaries. In-plant surveys have been made in many plants,
and recommendations made concerning in-plant changes to
prevent such spills. Many of these have already been
effected.
The O.W.R.C. maintains a surveillance system for
the prevention of accidental spills. This includes in-plant
inspection, aerial and vessel surveillance and the operation
of robot monitoring systems for continuous water quality
analysis.
5. Unusual increases in waste output and accidental
spills be reported immediately to the appropriate agency.
Unusual increases in waste output and accidental
spills are reported as a routine procedure to the appropriate
State agency. For example, the "Waste Registration Outlet
Law" of the State of New York requires that periodic reports
be submitted to the Commissioner of Health containing data
pertaining to the quality and quantity the of effluent waste
discharyc? from all outlets. In addition waste discharge
permits issued in New York State require the reporting of
unusual increases in waste output or accidental spills to the
state regulatory agency.
Arrangements are in effect between the Ontario Water
Resources Commission and the U.S. pollution control agencies
for reporting on a routine basis unusual increases in waste
output and accidental spills.
6

6. Water pollution surveiZZance stations be should
established at appropriate Zoca.tions on Lake Erie and its
tributaries.
The Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
has established water pollution surveillance stations
all
of the major tributaries of Lakes Erie and Ontario, in the
United States.
In the State of New York, stream pollution surveillance
stations exist on all boundary waters and tributaries
to such waters as part of a State-wide water quality surveillance
network established in 1964. The program includes
manual and automatic monitoring stations. Automatic monitoring
stations are planned for 1968 in the Niagara and Genesee Rivers
with additional stations contemplated
a later date in other
boundary waters and tributaries.
The State of Pennsylvania has established a chemical
and bacteriological laboratory in the City of Erie to facilitate
stream and lake surveillance.
The Ontario Water Resources Commission established
in 1965, and maintains a water quality monitoring program on
Western Lake Erie and Detroit - St. Clair River systems. In
1966, this program was extended to include all Great Lakes
waters affected by waste sources from Ontario. The monitoring
program on the tributary streams begun in 1964 was intensified
in 1966 to provide a more complete record of water quality.
Studies were also carried out on sections of the tributary
streams to determine water use and the wastewater loading
limitations acceptable under low flow and summer conditions.
The Federal Governments of both countries have
established deep water surveillance stations in both Lakes
Erie and Ontario.
7. Disposal of garbage, trash, and other deleterious
refuse in Lake Erie or its tributaries be prohibitcd and
existing dumps along river banks and shores of the lake
should be removed.
At the Lake Erie Enforcement Conference, the States
unanimously agreed to the recommendation that the disposal of
garbage, trash, and other deleterious refuse in Lake Erie or
its tributaries be prohibited and existing dumps along river
banks and shores of the lake be removed.
7

In New York State refuse disposal is controlled
under Part 19 of the State Sanitary Code which regulates the
location and operation of dumps. In addition, the State
program provides 100 percent grants for community areawide
study and solutions of solid waste disposal. Applications
for grants have been submitted by the counties located in the
basin.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health conducted a
survey of existing dumps in the Pennsylvania portion of the
basin in a joint survey with the U.S. Public Health Service
and the Erie County Department of Health. Nineteen sites
were visited, and of these, nine were found to be contributing
to the pollution of tributaries of Lake Erie.
Recommendations were made to close five sites and convert
four sites into satisfactory landfill operations. The landfill
operations in Erie County are being kept under close
surveillance to insure that water pollution from sanitary
landfills is prevented or abated.
The Ontario Public Health Act was amended in 1967
to provide tighter control over transport and disposal of
solid wastes. This includes the requirement for approval and
licensing of disposal sites.
The conferees at the Lake Erie Enforcement Conference
agreed to meet with representatives of Federal, State and local
officials responsible for agricultural, highway and community
development programs in order that runoffs resulting from such
development which might have deleterious effects on water
quality in Lake Erie, be controlled.
In New York State these problems are being considered
in Multi-Purpose Water Resources Planning Studies. The Erie-
Niagara Planning and Development Board is studying soil erosion,
sedimentation, land use and treatment. The task groups
responsible for these studies include representatives from
local, State and Federal agencies.
8

Ontario's Conservation Authorities have worked
with the Department of Agriculture on a number of soil
conservation and land use projects. These have included:
demonstrations.of improved land management practices applied
to gully control, farm pond construction, reforestation and
pasture improvement, land judging competitions, assistance
to landowners to build grass waterways and farm drainage
systems, and stream bank erosion control.
The various aspects of sediment transport and
erosion were reviewed at the Ontario Pollution Control
Conference, December, 1967.
soil
In addition, the Lake Erie Enforcement Conference
agreed that combined storm and sanitary sewers would be
prohibited in all newly developed urban
in existing areas wherever feasible.
areas, and eliminated
An example is the City of Erie which is the only
municipality in the Pennsylvania portion of the Lake Erie
Basin that contributes significant discharges from overflows
from combined sewers. The City has begun a program of
separating storm and sanitary sewers in re-development areas.
Separation has been completed in one 12-block area and a
second project is under design. A program has also been
completed whereby all major discharges from industry to the
City's storm sewer system have been abated.
9. That the disposal of material from future dredging
operations be in carefully selected enclosed areas. Such
areas could either be used for extending the shore into the
lakes, or in enclosed areas offshore, but not near zjater
intakes or beaches. Such disposal areas should be so selected,
when possible, that they might have some useful purpose after
the enclosed area is filled.
Studies of the pollutional effect of dredging operations
are being actively carried out by the U.S. Corps of
Engineers, the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
and State Agencies. Full scale studies were begun in 1967.
A preliminary report on these investigations is expected early
in 1968.
In addition, the State of New York has a regulatory
responsibility under their Stream Protection Law, Chapter 955,
Laws of 1965, which requires a person who disturbs a stream
bed, (including excavation or fill in navigable waters) to
obtain a permit from the Water Resources Commission.
9

The O.W.R.C.. is revising its inventory of dredging
operations and will continue to observe such operations to
ensure that water quality in adjacent areas is not adversely
affected.
10. Uniform regulations be developed and enforced by
the Federal, State and ProvinciaZ Governments concerning
the disel!tzr’ge of refusc and wastes from pleasure craft and
cornmcrcial ves:;e Is.
Legislation and rules and regulations to control
sewage discharges from pleasure craft and other vessels in
boundary waters have been enacted by the Province of Ontario
and the States of Michigan, New York, and Ohio.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is developing
regulations pertaining to wastes from boats.
Also, regulations are being drafted by the Department
of Transport (Canada) to control the discharge of
wastes from vessels operating in Canadian waters.
A bill, Boat Pollution (S.2525), was introduced
into the United States Congress in 1967, which would require
the Secretary of the Interior to set standards on sewage,
ballast, bilge, litter, etc., discharged from vessels in
navigable waters. The proposed legislation also provides
enforcement powers.
Some of the problems that must be resolved pertaining
to wastes from pleasure craft include a lack of
suitable treatment units, the movement of boats from one
jurisdiction into another having different requirements, and
effective enforcement. A committee of the technical boards
has been set up to investigate these problems and to make
recoxrmendations to the boards at their next meetings.
11. To provide needed supporting and basic information
for overall boundary water studies, it is further recommended
that both the United States and Canadian Governments encourage
and support research and related activities:
(1) To better estabZish the mechanisms by
which eutrophication oecur and the most
efficient and effective means of retarding
this phenomenon and preventing of minimizing
its effects on the many legitimate
water uses in Lake Erie.
10

To adopt, at the outset, an overall
concept of continuous and long-term
research investigations, surveillance
and time dependent studies on Lake Erie
and Lake Ont;ario and the St. LaQrence
River to make up the deficiencies in
scientific data and provide the basis
for future judgements.
To institute similar studies on ne#
methods of the contro2 and treatment of
wastes in urban areas, and the assessment
of potential dangers and controls
on the use of fertilizers, pesticides
and herbicides in rural and forested
apeas.
To eventually expand these studies to
include all the Great Lakes and adjoining
watersheds.
To introduce the me&.hods, practices and
theopies of oceanography, to determine
the physical processes of circulation,
mixing and diffusion which determine the
distribution of lake pollutants.
To establish continuous and long-term
studies on problems of chemical lake
aging, sedimentation, biology and
eutrophication of the lakes.
In March of 1966, these Boards presented to the
International Joint Commission a document entitled "Outline
of Proposed Program of Investigations, Surveys and Studies
to the International Joint Commission, March 1966, Lake Erie -
Lake Ontario and International Section of the St. Lawrence
River" .
This report summarized the proposed short-term, and
continuing studies (long-term) of the Boards, and designated
lead roles to be assumed by various agencies. This proposal
was accepted by the International Joint Commission, and field
studies proposed therein commenced immediately thereafter.
Short-term studies were designed to acquire factual
data on pollutmts, nutrients and other aspects of the
existing problem in order that practical remedial measures to
11

abate pollution could 'be developed, and these measures, and
the general conditions in Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and the
international section of the St. Lawrence River reported to
the International Joint Commission in 1969.
Continuing studies were proposed to run concurrently
with short-term investigations and were in include an intensive
examination of lake circulation; mixing and diffusion:
long-term chemical and biological changes, physical features,
and the relative significance of pollutants; parameters for
water qua.lity; effectiveness of remedial measures; potential
effects from fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides; and
generally the whole problem of eutroph.ication.
Much of the original assessment work has already
been done by the Great Lakes Illinois River Basin Project
Offices of the Department of the Interior located at Rochester,
N.Y. and Cleveland, Ohio and by the water pollution control
agencies in the States of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Indiana and Michigan. Their contribution to the short-term
studies is really a continuation of on-going studies. In
addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has carried out
water characteristic studies under their Lake Survey Program
in 1966 and is preparing a report on their findings.
The contribution of the Canadian Federal Government
has been a co-oxdinated effort by the Department of Energy,
Mines and Resources, the Department of National Health and
Welfare, and the Fisheries Research Board. These studies were
to supplement information already collected by F.W.P.C.A. In
1966, eleven water quality cruises were carried out in Lake
Ontario and one in Lake Erie. As a part of their long-term
studies, the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources also
carried out seven cruises to examine geophysical characteristics
of Lake Ontario. Preliminary studies of the upper lakes
are proposed for 1968.
In addition, the Great Lakes Institute of the
University of Toronto, under contract to the Department of
Energy, Mines and Resources carried out water quality studies
in Lake Ontario during the winter months.
In 1967 eight water quality cruises were carried out
on Lake Erie, and eleven in Lake Ontario. In addition,
physical and geological cruises were carried out for lonyterm
variables.
Also, as a part of their short-term studies, the
Department of National Health and Welfare has, for the past
12

three years, carried out intensive water quality studies in
the Bay of Quinte of Lake Ontario, and the international
section of the St. Lawrence River.
Long-term research plans have been developed for
the Great Lakes by federal agencies of the Canadian
Government. The Canada Centre for Inland Waters has been
established by the Depar:tmen.t of Energy, Mines and Resources
at the western end of Lake Ontario, in Burlington, Ontario.
This centre is presently housed in a vast trailer complex at
the site of the permanent research buildings. Permanent
facilities will have space available for co-operative research
with universities and other federal departments.
The Fisheries Research Board of Canada has established
their Freshwater Institute in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Part of their research effort will be directed toward a
better understanding of the processes of eutrophication, and
how the phenomenon applies to the Great Lakes. A program of
artificially enriching small lakes in their natural condition
is presently being developed.
The Department of National Health and Welfare has
developed facilities in the new Environmental Health Centre
in Ottawa, and a new Regional Laboratory in Kingston, Ontario,
and is programming its research to attack health related
problems on the Great Lakes, nota.bly microbiological studies,
and the levels of toxicants which can be tolerated under Great
Lakes conditions.
The O.W.R.C. has, over the past three years,
developed a long-term surveillance program encompassing all
the Great Lakes and Interconnecting Channel waters influenced
by waste discharges and drainage from Ontario. This work is
carried out by laboratory equipped vessels and is geared to
determine the bacteriological, biological, chemical and
physical characteristics of these waters. Special emphasis
is placed on intensive use areas such as the Interconnecting
Channels and harbour areas. 1nform.ation on waste assimilation,
water and waste mixing and dispersion characteristics and
water quality trends forms the basis for long-term planning
of water use and water quality control programs to meet the
needs of present and future development.
An advisory committee on pollution was forrned in
Ontario by Order in Council dated October 27th, 1966. Since
its formation, technical subcontmittees on industrial wastes,
pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, radioactivity and
refuse d.isposa1 have been established to co-ordinate departmental
and agency programs, foster technical and economic
13

esearch and act as liaison COmITLittee to assist in Federalprovincial
consultations. The Ontario Herbicides Committee,
made up of representatives of the Departments of Agriculture,
1jcalt.h and the O.W.R.C., maintains a watch on the application
in Ontario of all types of herbicides. The commercial applicators
are licensed and constant surveillance is maintained
Over the use of these chemicals. The opening of the Ontario
Pesticide Laboratory at the Uni.versity of Guelph in 1967 has
furthered this work.
The O.W.R.C. has, for the past eleven years, carried
out pollution abatement programs on the Great Lakes waters
affected by activities within the drainage basins in Ontario.
In connection with this wark., surveys of lake waters affected
by drainage and waste sources in Ontario were extented in,
1966 and 1967 to include Lake Huron and Lake Superior,
respectively.
Oceanographic techniques applicable to the Great
Lakes were ccmrencea in 1965 to develop information on the
physical, chenical and biclogical processes determining the
distribution of lake pollutants. Definition of mathematical
models for waste sources describing waste decay and transport
pattern based on local current, temperature and chemical
quality characteristics is under active development.
The various aspects of nutrient removal, productivity
of eutrophic waters and land use related to nutrient
contribution are being investigated by the O.W.R.C. under its
water resources managenient prosram.
The Fed-era1 Water Pollution Control Administration,
in its research facilities located across the United States,
is continuing its studies aimed a.t a better understanding of
pollution control problem. Major efforts are presently being
directed toward th.e phosphate rerr,oval problem, and the control
of pollution from com.tinec! sewer systems.
Demonstration grants have been awarded, to municipalities
and regional governments in the United St.ates in
support of full-scale projects designed to alleviate current
problems. For example, the City of YLilwaukee, Wisconsin, is
trying to solve the critical combined sewers problem with a
$1.5 million Federal grant. A 3.8 million gallon underground
retention tank has been designed to trap storm water overflows
and retain then for future treatnient when treatment facilities
are not overtaxed.
14

2%. ?'ha data centers should he established both on
side..; of thc border to facilitate exchange, processing,
and distribution of data and information for existing and
fut-urz studies.
Data centers have been established
of the border.
on both sides
2.11 water quality data collected by Canadian
federal. agencies have been stored in the Canadian Oceanographic
Data Centre. Meteorological data collected by th.e
Depaxtment of Transport are inccrpora.ted with data of that
department's Meteorological Branch.
Data collected by the U.S. Department of the
Interior's'Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
have been stored in their Storet system.
some data
ties, and
U.S. Lake
data in a
The Bureau of Corrmercial Fisheries is storing
in th.e Nat.iona1 Oceanographic Data Center facilisome
of its own form.at in its own facilities. The
Survey (Corps of Engireers) is Troposing to store
Great Lakes Data Center using Storet.
The Ontario water Resources Commission, in 1966,
developed its own dat.a storage system which is a modification
of Stoket. This system will-be expanded. in th.e future to be
compatible with syst.ems used by Canadian and U.S. federal
and state agencies.
The Great Lakes Institute of the University of
Toronto is storinq its Great Lakes data in the Canadian
Oceanographic Data Centre. The University of Michigan has
its own system, 2s does the University of Wisconsin.
Punch card, or rr,agneti.c tape data records can be
exchanged but the receiving agency or data centre nust develop
its own program to ccmpile data in a form suitable for its own
computer facilities.
The need for data exchange prorrpted tb.e Conference
of State Sanitary Engineers (attenGed. by representatives of
the States of New York and Pennsylvania) to establish a Joint
Committee on Water Quality Management. Data. The purpose of the
Committee is to develop uniform procedures for the storage,
collection, and processing of data to facilitate exchange of
such data among interested agencies. Other participants include
the Associa.tion of the State and Interstate Water POllUtiOI?
15

Control Administrators, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Federal
Water Pollution Control Administration, U.S. Soil Conservation
Service, U.S. Public Health Service, and the U.S. Geological
Survey. The activities of this Committee resulted in the
establishment of a workshop by the Upper Mississippi and Great
Lakes Eoard of State Sanitary Engineers. This workshop has
been attended hy representatives of the Ontario Water Resources
Commission. These activities will assist in the efficient
exchange of water quality information among agencies concerned
wit.h the waters of the Great Lakes.
16

REVISED
An important source of data and
new study results that will be
significant to this effort
can be expected from the ongoing Harza
Engineering Garrison Water Quality Study under contract with USBR.
The USUK representatives on the committees or the
Board will
distribute output from the Harza study
as it becomes available.
Existing studies and
impact statements of special significance to this
study have been distributed to the
Board members and a list of other
rc€erences has been prepared. Additional references including briefs
submitted at Commission hearings on GDU will also be made available
to the study organization.
C. Organization,
Thc 12-member board constitutes an important study resource with
a
broad ranye of technical and administrative talent that
will be tapped
to nunitgc’ til is study. There is, however, a large volume of work to
be nc.

REVISED
1. Water Quality Committee
2. Water Quantity Committee
3. Biology Committee
4. Uses Committee
5. Engineering Committee
6. Synthesis and Report Committee
An outline of study activity for each committee is shown under VI below.
All committees are asked to prepare a plan of study which addresses:
Organization, required funds, special coordination needs, and a
schedule showing input needs and output timing. Early committee
technical activity should be directed towards selection of standard
terms of reference and measuring methods, rationalization of sampling
techniques, definitions of "present" conditions, and preparation of
an outline of its report.
Present conditions shall be defined by the committee to represent
current baseline conditions recognizing hydrologic and other variables.
D. Quality and Time Control
In order to have a report completed and to the Commission by August 15,
1976, it will be critical that all event schedules be rigorously
followed. A master schedule chart is included in the plan which
shows key events in the process leading to the final report. Committee
contingency plans or alternative means of accomplishing tasks are
encouraged and should be available if schedule problems arise.
Committees are asked to confirm the key event times and include
further schedule details in their plan of study.
11